The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 183
of the apoplexy, which has a little impaired his memory; but he
retains all the oddity of his character in perfection, and is going
back to Italy, by the way of Geneva, that he may have a conference
with his friend Voltaire, about giving the last blow to the Christian
superstition—He intends to take shipping here for Holland or
Hamburgh; for it is a matter of great indifference to him at what
part of the continent he first lands.
When he was going abroad the last time, he took his passage in
a ship bound for Leghorn, and his baggage was actually embarked.
In going down the river by water, he was by mistake put on board
of another vessel under sail; and, upon inquiry, understood she
was bound to Petersburgh—‘Petersburgh,—Petersburgh—(said
he) I don’t care if I go along with you.’ He forthwith struck a bar-
gain with the captain; bought a couple of shirts of the mate, and
was safe conveyed to the court of Muscovy, from whence he
travelled by land to receive his baggage at Leghorn—He is now
more likely than ever to execute a whim of the same nature; and
I will hold any wager, that, as he cannot be supposed to live much
longer, according to the course of nature, his exit will be as odd as
his life has been extravagant.*
But, to return from one humourist to another; you most know
I have received benefit, both from the chalybeate and the sea, and
would have used them longer, had not a most ridiculous adventure,
by making me the town-talk, obliged me to leave the place; for I
can’t bear the thoughts of affording a spectacle to the multitude—
Yesterday morning, at six o’clock, I went down to the bathing-
place, attended by my servant Clinker, who waited on the beach
as usual—The wind blowing from the north, and the weather being
hazy, the water proved so chill, that when I rose from my first
plunge, I could not help sobbing and bawling out, from the effects
* This gentleman crossed the sea to France, visited and conferred with Mr. de
Voltaire at Fernay, resumed his old circuit at Genoa, and died in 1767, at the house
of Vanini in Florence. Being taken with a suppression of urine, he resolved, in imita-
tion of Pomponius Atticus, to take himself off by abstinence; and this resolution he
executed like an ancient Roman. He saw company to the last, cracked his jokes, con-
versed freely, and entertained his guests with music. On the third day of his fast, he
found himself entirely freed of his complaint; but refused taking sustenance. He said
the most disagreeable part of the voyage was past, and he should be a cursed fool
indeed, to put about ship, when he was just entering the harbour. In these sentiments
he persisted, without any marks of affectation, and thus finished his course with such
ease and serenity, as would have done honour to the firmest Stoic of antiquity.